Choosing an Eye Doctor

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Are street signs -- or the newspaper -- looking a little fuzzy these days? It's probably time to see an eye doctor.

If you've never been before, choosing an eye doctor can be tricky. There are several kinds of eye care experts with lots of different specialties. To help guide you, here are some things to consider when choosing an eye doctor.

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Finding an Eye Doctor

Recommendations from your doctor (or pediatrician). Your doctor will have the names of eye doctors in the area. He or she may have a sense of who would be a good fit for you or your young children.

Recommendations from family, friends, and coworkers. Think of everyone you know who wears glasses -- they all have eye doctors. Ask them.

Professional organizations. The web sites of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association both offer ways to find local eye doctors.

Questions to Ask an Eye Doctor

Once you have an appointment, here are a few questions to ask.

What type of eye doctor are you? There are two types of eye doctors -- ophthalmologists and optometrists. There's a lot of overlap in the services they offer. What's the difference?

Ophthalmologists are MDs -- doctors who can give you total eye care. They can do exams, test and treat eye diseases, and perform surgery.

Optometrists are ODs – they have medical training but are not physicians. They're trained in diagnosing and treating many eye-related diseases. They're more likely to focus on routine eye care and vision testing for glasses or contacts.

How long have you been in practice? Experience matters. An eye doctor with experience may be better at diagnosing your problem simply because he or she has seen more patients. If you have a specific eye condition, make sure that your eye doctor has experience treating that condition.

Do you take my insurance? This is key -- although really, you should ask it before you go in to see the doctor.

What are your credentials? A doctor's credentials are important, so don’t hesitate to check them. Ideally, check out your doctor before you arrive for your appointment. Check online for a license -- either from the state medical board or state board of optometry. See where the doctor went to school. These days it’s fairly easy to do a simple background check online and find out what other people think of the doctor.

What's your specialty? Some ophthalmologists specialize in treating kids, or people with specific diseases, like glaucoma. If you’re choosing an ophthalmologist, find someone who's a good match for your age and problems.